Inquire of the LORD: See the comments on this expression at 1 Kgs 22.8 and 2 Kgs 3.11. As the next verse will make clear, God’s will was determined by means of consulting a prophet.
For the people, and for all Judah: This sounds redundant and the two phrases have been translated in Good News Translation as “for all the people of Judah.” Many interpreters see no distinction between the words the people and all Judah and assume that the words and for all Judah are a later scribal addition. Indeed, Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensiasuggests that they should be omitted, and New Jerusalem Bible does omit them for this reason. However, there is no manuscript evidence for omitting these words, and it is not certain that the two phrases refer to the same group of people. If “the people of the land” in 2 Kgs 21.24 really refers to a special group who put Josiah into power, it is possible that the same group is given special mention here. If that interpretation is accepted, it may be better to translate “for ‘the people of the land’ and for the rest of the people of Judah” and to put in a footnote that “the people of the land” is probably a technical expression referring to the male citizens of the country who had special privileges.
The words of this book refers to the message or teachings of the book that had been found. Revised English Bible speaks of “the contents of this book,” while New American Bible refers to “the stipulations of this book.” But New International Version may provide a better model with “what is written in this book.”
The transition word for in the middle of this verse introduces the reason why King Josiah was instructing this delegation to confer with Yahweh. It was because the king believed that Yahweh was angry with the people of Judah.
Instead of saying great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, it may be more natural to say something like “the LORD is very angry with us” or “the LORD is furious with us.” If, however, the image of anger as being “hot” or “burning” is natural in the receptor language, one may say something similar to New American Bible, which has “the anger of the LORD has been set furiously ablaze against us.” Compare 2 Kgs 13.3.
The transition word because introduces the reason for the LORD’s anger. In view of the long and complicated sentence in this verse, it may be better to begin a new sentence at this point, reminding the reader that this is an explanation of why Yahweh was angry with his people. Good News Translation provides a good model for this restructuring.
Fathers here means “ancestors” (Good News Translation), and this should be made clear in translation.
All that is written concerning us: Concerning us is literally “upon us.” Some Greek manuscripts read “upon it,” that is, in the book, but this reading probably is the result of harmonization with the parallel text in 2 Chr 34.21. Jerusalem Bible, Biblia Dios Habla Hoy, La Bible Pléiade, and Osty-Trinquet follow the variant reading and translate “everything written in it” (similarly Peregrino, Gray). But most other modern versions translate the Hebrew text, which is recommended by Critique Textuelle de l’Ancien Testament with a {C} rating.
A possible model for this whole verse is:
• The LORD is very angry with us because our ancestors did not obey the laws written in this book. Now go and consult the LORD for us to find out what he wants us to do.
Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .